ALBUM REVIEW: Armour Of Light – Riot V
New York City is a timeless place that is still considered the hottest location year in, year out; many household names in hard rock have formed in The Big Apple. These bands included THE VELVET UNDERGROUND, ANTHRAX and BLUE OYSTER CULT. RIOT V are amongst these bands that formed in New York and they are hailed the godfathers of power metal. They are due to set their latest release onto the airwaves in the form of their upcoming album Armour Of Light.
Their latest album Armour Of Light allows a new generation of fans to enjoy the old school sounds of RIOT but with a modern twist. It kicks off with a mighty track Victory; one thing you can tell already from the album is that the old school sound doesn’t go away. The harmonies between the different vocals and the guitar work takes you back in time. Despite these great elements, it’s not the best album opener that’s been produced as the power and might from the sound isn’t evident straight away.
Listening to the album after a disappointing start, you would hope that the album starts to get better after the opening track and it does to some extent as there are some tracks that stand out. The harmonising vocals at the beginning of End Of The World gives off a hint of the classic KANSAS tune Carry On My Wayward Son, so that initially grabs the attention of the listener. The song contains a memorable chorus, a fine melody, great vocals and excellent guitar work.
Even though the setup of Heart Of A Lion seems like a safe option, the melody itself grabs the listener’s attention. The song contains excellent guitar work, great vocals and a beat that is ideal for those headbangers to swish their lovely locks back and forth. Also, any track that starts with the words “Star Wars as a shield” is bound to perk up attention from listeners. Caught In The Witches Eye is a track that picks up the album’s pace with it’s marching beat and the vocal power. This will be the track that fans will look forward to hearing played live; the marching beat, guitar solos and memorable chorus will ensure that this is the case.
It’s evident in RIOT V‘s sound that there is lots of talent and experience there, this latest album however maybe an acquired taste for some fans in the metal community. It is perfectly clear that RIOT V worked hard to place this album together and there is no doubt that long time listeners and new fans of the band will enjoy Armour of Light. To an outsider though, it could work either way; it could either be very much loved after getting used to their sound or it might become just a background album to have playing when doing other tasks. It will be up to the listener to decide.
Rating: 6/10
Armour of Light is out now via Nuclear Blast Records.
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